My Dear Community:

On this 5th Sunday of Lent (Cycle A), the Church presents one of the most powerful signs in the Gospel: the raising of Lazarus. In the midst of the sorrow of Martha and Mary over the death of their brother, Jesus arrives and speaks words that still echo today: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” This passage is not only about an extraordinary miracle; it reveals who Jesus truly is: the Lord of life, the one who has power even over death. The Gospel also shows us the deeply human face of Christ. Before calling Lazarus out of the tomb,

Jesus is moved with compassion and weeps. Through these tears, the Lord shares in the suffering of those who experience pain, loss, or despair. God does not remain distant from our struggles; rather, He walks with us and knows our tears.

When Jesus cries out, “Lazarus, come out!”, He not only restores life to His friend, but also invites each of us to come out of our own “tombs”: sin, fear, sadness, or a lack of faith. Lent is precisely that time of grace in which the Lord calls us by name to free us from whatever binds us and keeps us from living fully.

As we draw closer to the beginning of Holy Week, this Gospel prepares us to contemplate the great mystery of Easter. Just as Jesus called Lazarus back to life, we too are called to trust in His word and believe that in Him there is always hope. May this final stage of Lent be a time to open our hearts to the Lord, so that His voice may raise us up and lead us to the new life that only He can give.

Rev. Julio Fernandez